Heel and shank lasting machines



Sept. 1, 1964 F. c. CHOICE HEEL AND SHANK LASTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12, 1965 [n venzor Fan/c C. Choice By his fizorney Sept. 1, 1964 F. c. CHOICE HEEL AND SHANK LASTING MACHINES -7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 12, 1963 Sept. 1, 1964 F. c. CHOICE HEEL AND SHANKLASTIN G MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 12, 1963 Sept. 1, 1964 F. c. CHOICE 3,146,474

HEEL AND SHANK LASTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 12, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 1, 1964 F. c. CHOICE HEEL AND SHANK LASTING MACHINES '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 12, 1963 P 1964 F. c. CHOICE 7 3,146,474

HEEL AND SHANK LASTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 12, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Sept. 1, 1964 F. c. CHOICE HEEL AND swmx LASTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Feb. 12, 1963 United States Patent 3,146,474 HEEL AND SHANK LASTENG MACHINES Frank C. Choice, Leicester, England, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Feb. 1'2, 1963, Ser. No. 258,024 Claims priority, application Great Britain Mar. 10, 1962 22 Claims. (Cl. 12-12.1)

This invention relates to lasting machines and is particularly concerned with machines for use in lasting the heel seats and adjacent curved shank portions of shoes. As herein illustrated, the features of the invention are shown as embodied in a heel seat lasting machine of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,949,539, issued March 6, 1934, in the names of Joseph Gouldbourn, Fred Ricks and William T. B. Roberts. It is to be understood, however, that in their broader aspects, features of the invention are not limited to embodiment in a heel seat lasting machine of that particular type or to the exact mechanical arrangement shown.

In the manufacture of shoes it is a common practice to utilize a machine having a pair of wipers for lasting marginal portions of the upper materials of a shoe in the heel end or heel seat portion thereof. In machines of this type, for example, as shown in the above-mentioned patent, the wipers advance and close to wipe the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of the shoe. In order to provide a well-defined feather line and to insure that the lasting margin of the upper materials will be firmly bedded down on the insole, the wipers are arranged to advance and close twice during a complete operating cycle. At the conclusion of the second wiping movement of the wipers, tacks may be driven through holes in the wipers to secure the lasting margin to the insole or, in an alternative form of the machine, the upper may be secured to the insole by means of adhesive applied between the insole and the various layers of the upper materials, such as the lining, counter stiffener, and upper.

In machines of the foregoing type the wipers normally act on the lasting margin of the upper materials forwardly of the heel end of the shoe substantially as far as the region of the breast line, and should a shoe present a substantially flat portion, such as would be found on a mans shoe, forwardly of the heel breast line area, the wipers may be adapted to project forwardly a sufficient distance to wipe the upper materials inwardly over such flat area forwardly of the breast line. However, the slope of the bottom of the shoe in the shank portion necessarily limits the forward extent of action of the heel seat wipers and it is not practical to attempt to pro vide shaped heel seat wipers to accommodate such curvature in view of the accuracy of the shape which is required and the variety of sizes and shapes of shoes normally required to be operated ,on by a single heel seat lasting machine. For example, in a case of a womans high heel shoe, the forward extent of action of the heel seat wipers is greatly limited by a relatively steep slope in the shank portion which commences immediately forwardly of the heel breast line.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide a heel seat lasting machine which is also capable of lasting the upper materials forwardly of the breast line and into the curved shank portion of the shoe. With this object in View, and in accordance with a feature of the invention, the herein illustrated machine is provided with a novel and improved wiping arrangement comprising a pair of shank wiping units, one at tached to each of the heel seat wipers for movement therewith and extending forwardly of the heel seat wip- 3,146,474 Patented Sept. 1, 1964 ers, together with means for automatically causing the wiping surfaces of these wiping units to assume a curvature appropriate to wipe in marginal portions of the upper materials in the curved shank portion of the particular shoe presented to the machine. More particularly, and in accordance with other features of the invention, in the herein illustrated machine each shank wiping unit comprises wiping surfaces formed on a series of blocks or fingers mounted for articulation relatively to each other in a carrier or holder. Each carrier, or holder, is pivoted on a bracket or similar supporting member for arcuate movement in a heightwise extending plane and about an axis extending generally transversely of the shoe bein lasted, and the bracket or supporting memher, in turn, is pivoted on its associated heel seat wiper for arcuate movement in a substantially horizontal plane. The wiping surfaces of the fingers or blocks of each shank wiping unit are caused automatically to assume the desired curvature as a result of such pivotal movement of the carriers or holders which is effected through connections with an arm carrying a member adapted to engage the shank portion of each shoe on the shoe support or jack as it is moved into operative position in the machine. The arrangement is such that elevation of the arm swings the carrier or holder on each side of the shoe about the axis of its pivotal connection with its associated bracket or holder, and each wiping device includes a linkage arrangement so organized as to cause the wiping surfaces of the fingers to lie in an arc the radius of which is determined by the degree of elevation of the associated carrier or holder.

Preferably, and in accordance with still another feature of the invention, on the commencement of each operating cycle of the machine, means are provided for automatically holding the wiper block carriers or holders yieldingly against further swinging movement while still permitting limited heightwise movement of these holders relatively to each other. Accordingly, the wiping units are adapted to apply adequate wiping pressure to secure the lasting margins of the upper materials to the insole of the shoe by means of previously applied adhesive and yet are adapted to accommodate themselves to the bottoms of shoes which slope laterally in the shank portion.

The several articulated blocks of each shank wiping unit are adapted to provide wiping surfaces which present substantially straight leading edges and, in accordance with a still further feature of the invention, means are provided for so guiding the holders or supporting members on which the blocks are mounted that, as the shank wiping units are moved inwardly, the leading edges of their wiping surfaces remain in a generally parallel relation. Thus, the shank wiping units engage the upper materials along the shank portion at the opposite sides of the shoe being lasted evenly and at substantially the same time. More particularly, the supporting members or holders each carry a cam roller which is adapted to cooperate with a stationary cam thus to provide the aforementioned action of the wiping units.

In the herein illustrated machine, the shoe is supported on a jack or similar shoe support which is movable from an inoperative loading position to an operative position to present a shoe thereon to the machine. In the herein illustrated machine, and in accordance with still another feature of the invention, means associated with the shoe support are provided for clamping the upper materials against the opposite sides of the last in locations adjacent to and extending toewardly of the breast line which is adapted to hold the upper materials in place during the operation of the heel seat wipers and shank wiping units. Preferably, and as herein illustrated, the clamping means are adapted to be operated by fluid pressure and are mounted on the support for heightwise movement to accommodate shoes on lasts of different depths. Operator actuatable means are provided for effecting such heightwise movements of the clamping means and also for rendering the clamping means operative. At the conclusion of the operation of the heel seat wipers and shank wiping units the clamping means are automatically released.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will appear in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the wiping instrumentalities of a machine embodying the features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail view in elevation of one of a pair of wiping devices associated with the wiping instrumentalities and drawn to a considerably enlarged scale as compared with FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the wiping device shown in FIG. 2 illustrating how certain parts thereof are assembled together;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line IVIV in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 Ba view, in side elevation and partly in section, showing a work supporting and clamping mechanism associated with the machine;

FIG. 6 is a view in front elevation of the parts shown in FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7' and 8 are respectively views in front and side elevation of the lower portions of certain parts of the clamping mechanisms which are broken away in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 9 is a View in front elevation of a poistioning means associated with the clamping mechanism;

FIG. 10 is a view in side elevation of mechanism associated with the wiping devices; and

FIG. 11 is a front view of parts seen in FIG. 10.

The illustrative machine is organized for lasting marginal ortions of an upper of a shoe inwardly over an insole, for attachment thereto, in regions extending from the heel end up to approximately the ball line, and therefore including portions, in the shank region, which curve, to extents varying with the size and style of shoe, heightwise of the shoe.

The illustrative machine is provided with a jack or shoe support, generally referred to by the reference numeral 2 (FIGS. 5 and 6), on which a shoe S to be operated on is mounted bottom uppermost. The shoe is mounted on the jack in a loading position and carried by the jack into the machine in which it is supported in an operative position appropriately disposed relatively to the wiping plane of a pair of heel wipers 4, 4 (FIG. 1). In operative position the toe end of the shoe extends forwardly towards an operator standing in front of the machine.

The heel wipers 4, 4 comprise parts similar to the composite arrangement comprising the wiper members 32 and wiper blocks 33 disclosed in United States Ifitters Patent No. 1,949,539, granted March 6, 1934, in the names of Gouldbourn et al., and are adjustably mounted in wiper carrying plates 6 similar to the wiper carrying plates 21 referred to in said patent. As disclosed in said patent the wiper carrying plates 6 are caused to move to carry the wipers 4 in a wiping movement across the bottom of the shoe in the machine. First a continuous bodily forward and closing movement takes place and then a purely closing movement of the wipers 4 is effected. It is during the latter closing movement of the wipers 4 that the shank Wiping devices, about to be described, are caused to move inwardly over the shank portions at the opposite sides of the shoe being lasted. During the first part of the forward movement of the wipers 4 the wipers are closed so as to bring the inner edges of the wipers substantially into engagement with the upper round the back and sides of the heel end of the shoe. This is followed by forward and closing movement to bring the upper lasting margin it across the insole and finally after bodily advancement has ceased the wipers swing inwardly to complete the wiping operation.

When the heel wipers 4 are adjusted relatively to the wiper carryingplates 6 to suit the size of shoe being operated on they swing about a point where'the inner edges of the wipers abut at the rear of the shoe so that they swing about the said point without bodily forward or rearward movement as described in said specification.

The illustrative machine is constructed and arranged so that during each operative cycle of the machine the wipers 4 operate to wipe and tension the upper of the shoe being operated on over the shoe insole followed by a second, tighter wipe which is retained while tacks are driven by known means through tack pockets 8 in the Wipers 4-.

Extending forwardly from each heel wiper 4 is a shank wiping device, generally referred to by the reference number 141, now to be described. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 each shank wiping device 10 comprises a bracket 12 pivotally attached to its associated heel wiper 4 by a heightwise extending pin 14. The pin 14 is journaled in a bearing bracket 16 fixed to a forward heightwise extending face of said wiper 4. The bracket 12 is carried on a lower end of the pin 14, the pin projecting upwardly through the bearing bracket 16 to receive one arm of a three-armed member 18. A second arm of the member 18 extends forwardly in the machine and is bolted to a forward end of the bracket 12 by a bolt 19 incorporating an enlarged hexagonal portion arranged to support the member 13 and bracket 12 in spaced apart relationship. Thus the member 18 and bracket 12 may swing as a unit in a substantially horizontal plane about the axis of the pin 14. For controlling the swing of thebracket 12 about the axis of the pin 14 the third arm of the member 18 extends rearwardly in the machine and carries a cam follower roll 26 at its rearward end engaged in a fixed cam slot 22. There is a cam slot 22 associated with each wiping device 10, each cam slot being designed to control movement of its associated wiping device in a manner hereinafter described.

Each bracket 12 provides an L-shaped clearance defined by inner walls of two branches of the bracket. One branch extends outwardly from the pin 14 on which it is fixed and the other branch extends forwardly in the machine from the outer end of the first branch. It is to the forward end of the forwardly extending branch that the second arm of the three-armed member 18 is bolted as hereinbefore described. Said clearances are oppositely disposed in the machine. Disposed in each clearance is a series of five wiping fingers 24, or blocks, assembled for articulation relatively to each other in a manner now to be described.

Referring particularly to FIG. 3 each finger 24 has a somewhat spade-like configuration in plan view providing a comparatively wide upper wiping portion (approximately /2 inch wide in the illustrative machine) extending into a tapering shank terminating in a ball end 26. Wiping surfaces 28 (FIGS. 2 and 4) on the undersides of the wiping portions of the fingers 24 are slightly curved widthwise, polished and rounded at their leading edges so as to wipe smoothly across a shoe bottom during operation of the machine. As each wiping device 10 is similarly constructed and arranged, except that they are mounted one on each side of a shoe in operative position in the machine for movement inwardly across the shoe bottom, only the mounting of the fingers associated with one of said devices will be described in detail.

The set of five fingers associated with the device 10 shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 (which device is the left side device 10 shown in FIG. 1) are positioned side by side, their ball ends 26 being received in a complementary channel 30 in a finger carrier 32. The rear end portion of the carrier 32 has a pivot pin 34 formed thereon and retained in a bore in the rear end portion of the forwardly extending branch of the associated bracket 12. The axis of the pivot pin 34 passes at right angles through the axis of the channel 30 the construction and arrangement being such that the finger carrier 32 may be swung in a heightwise direction on the bracket 12 and about the axis of the pin 34 for a purpose hereinafter described. The channel 30 is formed with a curved blind end in the vicinity of the pin 34- and extends forwardly in the carrier 32 the ball ends of the fingers 24 being fed into the channel through an open forward end thereof. The channel 30 embraces the ball ends 26 a suficient amount to prevent the fingers from falling out while allowing for adequate movement at the ball and socket joint provided by the ball ends 26 and channel 30. The ball ends are restrained against escape from the open end of the channel in a manner hereinafter described.

Referring to the rearmost finger 24- as the first finger, this finger has a scooped groove 36 in the rearmost edge of its wide upper wiping portion which mates with and traps a ball 33 contained in a hemispherical recess in the branch of the bracket 12 fixed on the pin 14. An oppositely disposed and similarly scooped groove 36 in the opposite edge of said upper wiping portion receives a rounded end of a pin 42 fixed in and extending widthwise through opposite edges of the wide upper wiping portion of the second finger 24. The other end of the pin 42 is also rounded and projects into a groove in the adjacent edge of the third finger 24 which is similar to the first finger 24. The fourth finger 24 is similar to the second finger and is provided with a pin 42 which has opposite ends projecting into adjacent grooves in the third and fifth fingers respectively. The five fingers are maintained in their side by side relationship on the carrier 32 by a rounded end of an adjustable screw 44 engaging in a scooped groove in the forward edge of the fifth finger 24, said finger being similar to the first and third fingers. The screw 44 is screwed into one end of an arm 46 pivotally mounted on the carrier 32 by means of a screw 48. The other end of the arm 46 contains a spring plunger 59 which bears against the ball end 26 of the fifth finger 24, thus retaining the ball ends of the fingers, and balls 52 interposed therebetween, in the channel St). The balls 52 are of such a size as to space the ball ends of the fingers so that the fingers extend from the channel 36 at least substantially at right angles to the axis thereof.

Extending upwardly from the inner end portions of the second and fourth fingers 24 (the inner end portions being the widened wiping portions) are stems 54. The stems 54 are formed with balls at their lower ends received in sockets in their respective fingers. The aforementioned pins 42 extend through bores in the ball ends of the stems thereby connecting the stems to said fingers. The bores in the ball ends of the stems taper outwardly in opposite directions from the center of said ball ends in a manner to provide clearance for articulation of the fingers relatively to their respective stems 54. The stems extend upwardly through bores in trunnions 56 pivotally mounted in a composite arm 58, FIG. 4, pivotally mounted by means of a pin 6t] to an upwardly projecting forward portion of the finger carrier 32, FIG. 2. A depending arm 62 pivotally connected by means of a pin 63 to a lug on the three-armed member 18 has its lower end pivotally connected to the arm 53 on the rearmost trunnion 56. A compression spring 64 surrounds each stem 54 between a flange thereon and its associated trunnion 56. Thus, the fingers 24 may yield, compressing the springs 60 against the trunnions 56 and causing the stems 54 to move upwardly through the bores in the trunnions. Each stem 54 is retained in its associated trunnion by a stop pin 66 extending diametrically through said stem, the pin being restrained for heightwise movement in oppositely disposed slots breaking into the bore of the trunnion.

It will be remembered that each carrier 32 carrying the fingers 2d and parts associated therewith is pivotally connected at its rearward end to a bracket 12, by means of the pin 34. Also, each carrier is supported at its forward end on a lower end of a depending link 68 hereinafter referred to. The illustrative machine is constructed and arranged so that as a shoe to be operated on takes up a position in the machine for the heel wipers 4 and shank wiping devices 10 to perform a wiping operation on the shoe, the link 68 is moved upwardly to elevate the forward end of the carrier 32. The degree of elevation of the carrier 32 about the axis of the pin 34 is determined by the heightwise contour of the shoe bottom in its shank region as hereinafter described. Normally the wiping surfaces 28 of the fingers 24 lie substantially along an are indicated by the broken line N in FIG. 2. (The normal and elevated disposition of the fingers changes somewhat betwee inoperative and operative positions of the wipers as will become clear hereinafter.) The disposition of the Wiping surfaces 28 is determined by the disposition of the linkage provided by the arms 58 and 62 which through the stems 54 determines the position of the second and fourth fingers 24, the other fingers 24, through their articular connections with the second and fourth fingers, being accommodated accordingly. On ele vation of the finger carrier 32 about the axis of its pivot pin 34- the ball ends 26 of the fingers are of course maintained in a straight line along the channel 30 but the relative positions taken up by the inner, wiping ends of the fingers are determined by the position taken up by the iinkage provided by the arms 58 and 62. This linkage is so organized that when the fingers are moved to elevated positions their wiping surfaces 28 are caused to assume positions in which they extend substantially along an arc of reduced radius, the radius being determined by the degree of elevation. Referring to FIG. 2 the radius of the are along which the wiping surfaces 28 lie in elevated positions as shown is smaller than the radius of the line N. Movement of the fingers relatively to each other about their longitudinal axes is allowed to an extent determined by clearance provided by chamfers on adjacent edges of the inner wiping portions of the fingers. Whereas in FIG. 2 the fingers 24 are shown elevated and extending in arcuate fashion in FIG. 3 for the sake of clarity in showing their assembly the fingers are drawn as extending in a horizontal plane.

As aforesaid each carrier 32 is supported at its forward end on the lower end of a depending link 68. There is a link 68 associated with each wiping device 10, each link 68 being universally connected to its associated finger carrier 32, FIG. 2, and extending upwardly for connection with a wiping device elevating arm 70 (FIGS. 10 and 11). The arm 70 extends heightwise and is disposed centrally of the machine in the lateral direction. A pin 72 extends laterally through the arm 70 and carries a pair of cam rolls 74 guided for movement in cam slots '76 disposed one on either side of the arm 7b in cam plates '7 8 secured to a fixed part of the machine. In a normal condition the arm 70 is supported by the rolls "id engaging in the bottom of the cam slots 76. The pin 72 extends outwardly on either side of the arm 79 and beyond the cam rolls 74 and is formed with part spherical portions 77 at its opposite ends to receive complementary portions provided on upper ends of the links 63. Rotatably mounted in a bifurcated lower end of the elevating arm 70 is a wheel 80 conveniently positioned to engage the shank region of the insole of a shoe as it is carried by the jack 2 from the loading position towards the operative position. As the shoe is moved rearwardly towards operative position the elevating arm 70 is cammed upwardly by the slope in the shank region of the shoe, the peripheral edge of the wheel 80 riding up the slope in engagement with the insole. The height to which the arm 7 ii is raised is determined by the height attained by the wheel 89 up the slope and since the links 68 connect the arm 70 to the forward ends of the finger carriers 32 the heightwise disposition of the wiping amass/4.

fingers 24 on either side of the shoe is determined accordingly.

The jack 2 (FIGS. 5 and 6) of the illustrative machine is mounted for rearward swinging movement from the loading position (which it occupies in FIGS. 5 and 6) about the axis of a horizontal, laterally extending shaft (not shown) to carry the heel end of the shoe mounted thereon against a heel band (not shown). The jack 2 is operated in a similar manner to the jack 12; disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,143,881, granted January 17, 1939, in the name of Jacob C. Iorgensen, and includes a post 36 movable upwardly to force the bottom of the heel end of the shoe S thereon against a holddown corresponding to the holddown 119 of the Jorgensen patent. The jack is swung rearwardly to carry the shoe against the heel band and its post is raised to force the shoe against the holddown prior to the actuation of the machine clutch which starts a cycle of operations.

Slidably mounted in a body portion 83 of the jack is a sleeve 90. The post 86 extends axially through the sleeve bore in the body portion 33 into the sleeve. The sleeve 91) is locked to the post for heightwise movement therewith by means of rack teeth 92 extending along an upper portion of the post 86 engaging with teeth formed on a toothed member 94 in the sleeve 9%. The sleeve supports at its upper end a last pin 96 arranged to engage in the last pin hole of the shoe last mounted on the jack. The last pin is mounted for limited lateral fioatability in a block 98 mounted in a curved guideway 11M)- extending forwardly and rearwardly in an upper face of the sleeve 90. Thus the block 93 and last pin 96 may tip about the axis of the curved guideway for the shoe to be accommodated in engagement with the holddown of the machine when in operative position.

The sleeve 91) can be telescoped on the post 86 in order to accommodate extremes of heights of heel end portions of lasts. In order to be able to do this the toothed member 94 is made retractable to disengage with the rack teeth 92. The toothed member slides in a slot 102 in the sleeve 99 and has a projection 11% extending through a bore in a plate 166 fixed to the sleeve. A pair of springs 168 normally urge the teeth on the member 94 to engage with the rack teeth 92 on the post 86. A trigger 110 is pivoted on the plate 1116 and engages in a slot in the projection 14%. When the machine operator desires to alter the position of the sleeve 91 on the post 86 he may press the trigger 110 to retract the member 94 against the pressure of the springs 108, thus disengaging the teeth on the member 94 with the rack teeth 92 of the post 86.

The illustrative machine is provided with means for firmly clamping the upper materials of the shoe against the last in the vicinity of its heel stiffener or counter corners prior to movement of the shoe from the loading position. The clamping means are carried by the jack 2 in a manner now to be described.

Fixed on a forward face of the block 8 is a heightwise extending slideway 112 which is embraced by a slide 114. Extending laterally of the machine through the slide 114 is a pin 116. The pin 116 projects on either side of the slide and provides a pivotal connection for a clamp support 118 which embraces the slide. The pin 116 extends. across bifurcations in the support 118 on either side of the slide 114 and supports, in each bifurcation, a roll 120 and the upper end of an arm of a U- shaped yoke 122, FIG. 6. The yoke 12.2 is pivotally mounted on the pin 116 and depends therefrom as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Secured centrally in the base of the yoke is a downwardly extending rod 124. The rod 124 extends downwardly through a tube 126 and has an adjusting nut 128 and a locking nut screwed on its lower end. The tube 126 fits slidingly in a trunnion 131) pivotally mounted in a bracket 132 secured on a fixed part of the machine. A spring 134 surrounds the rod 124- between the yoke 122 and a collar 136 adjacent the upper end of the tube 126 and normally resting on the trunnion 131) when the jack 2 is in the loading position. The spring 134 urges the yoke upwardly to determine the normal heightwise position of the clamp support 118 and thus the slide 114. This position is determined by engagement of the adjusting nut 128 on the rod 124 with the bottom end of the tube 126.

livotally mounted in the clamp support 118, by means of pins 137, for swinging movement laterally of the machine is a pair of bell-crank levers 138. These bellcrank levers each have an upwardly extending arm which carries in its upper end a work clamp 14%. Each bellcrank lever 13? has an inwardly extending arm formed with a lug 142 at its inner end which is engaged in a recess in a head 144 fixed on the upper end of a piston rod 146. The piston rod 14-6 extends upwardly from a piston 14% slidably mounted in a cylinder 1% fixed to the bottom of the clamp support 113. The illustrative machine is constructed and arranged so that when air under pressure is admitted to the cylinder 15% above the piston 1413 the piston is caused to descend to draw the head 144- and lugs 142 downwardly to swing the bellcrank levers 13% about the axes of the pins 137, the work clamps 14th swinging inwardly towards each other to clamp the upper of the shoe supported on the jack 2 against its last on either side thereof in the region of the shoe heel stiffener or counter corners (as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6). A stop screw 152 is provided in the bottom of the cylinder 151 to limit the downward movement of the piston and thus the inwards movement of the clamps 14% should they be operated without work being in position on the jack 2. The work clamps 141) engage the work in the machine a suitable distance below the level of the insole in the stiffener corner region and in order to accommodate lasts of varying heights the clamps are positioned relatively to the insole of the shoe to be operated on by positioning means now to be described.

Referring to FIG. 5, pivotally mounted, by means of a pin 154, on a fixed part of the machine on the left side of the jack 2 (as seen by an operator standing in front of the machine) is an upwardly extending arm 156. This arm is mounted for forward and rearward swinging movements about the axis of the pin 154 and is normally supported in a rearward, substantially upright position against said fixed part of the machine by a tension spring 158. Pivotally connected, by means of a pin 159, to the upper end of the arm 156 is a laterally extending, cranked gauge arm 16%, see also FIG. 9. Carried centrally of the machine, in the lateral direction, and above the jack 2 by the gauge arm 161? is a gauge 162. The gauge 162 forms a bridge laterally spanning a shoe on the'jack. The gauge 162 depends from a pivot pin 164- carried in a bifurcated end portion of the gauge arm 16%, the gauge being supported in a substantially balanced condition by the pin 16 i passing centrally through it. Rockability of the gauge 162 about the axis of the pin 164 is restricted by a hooked portion 166 of the gauge extending'over a portion of the gauge arm 161). Mounted centrally of the arch of the bridge formed by the gauge 162 is a gauge button 168 and mounted at each end of the arch is a pair of gauge rolls 171 Having placed a shoe, on its last, in inverted position on the last pin 96, the shoe extending forwardly between the clamps 1419, now in their uppermost positions, the operator grasps a lever 1'72 attached to the gauge arm 16th and pulls the gauge arm down about the axis of the pivot pin 159 which brings the gauge 16?; down for its gauge rolls 17% to engage on upper faces 171 of the oppositely disposed clamps 140, FIG. 6, and to depress them by causing the slide 114 to move downwardly on the slideway 112 against the resistance of the spring 134, FIG. 7. Depression of the clamps is limited by engagement of the gauge button 168 with the shoe insole, the clamps 1411 then being positioned so as to be able to engage the shoe upper on either 9 side of the last a suitable distance below the level of the insole.

If desirable, the clamps 140 may be moved to clamp the work at positions forwardly of the position relatively to the machine in which they would normally clamp the work. To achieve this a chain 174, connected at its forward end to an upwardly extending projection on the clamp support 118, has its rearward end connected to a bent rod 176 fixed to, and extending rearwardly from the arm 156 on which the gauge arm 160 is pivotally mounted. As aforesaid, the spring 158 urges the arm 156 rearwardly in the machine, thus, through the chain connection 174, the clamps 140 are supported in a rearward position about the axis of the pin 116 by which the clamp support 118 is pivotally connected to the slide 114. As the operator actuates the lever 172 to move the gauge 162 downwardly into engagement with the clamps and work he may pull forwardly, if thought desirable, on the lever 172 to swing the arm 156 forwardly about the axis of its pivot pin 154 against the resistance of the spring 158 thus moving the gauge 162 forwardly in the machine. The weight of the clamp support 118 and parts carried thereby is so distributed that, but for the chain 174, the clamps 1419 would tend to swing forwardly about the axis of the pivot pin 116, thus, when the arm 156 is moved forwardly about the axis of its pivot pin it allows the chain to be pulled forwardly by the clamp parts swinging about the pin 116. In this manner the clamps 140 may be positioned to best advantage lengthwise of the shoe according to the shoe size and the forward position on the shoe last of the shoe heel stiffener corners. Furthermore, with this arrangement the gauge 162 always descends into engagement on the clamps. A lug 177 on the machine, FIG. 5, limits the forward swinging movement of the arm 156.

The work clamps 141) each comprise rubber work gripping ends shaped to grip the upper against the last where it curves inwardly towards the last bottom (which as aforesaid is inverted in the machine) and shank portions received in bores in the upper ends of the upwardly extending arms of the bell-crank levers 138, FIG. 16. The clamps 140 are mounted for limited pivotal movement about the axes of their respective shank portions 30 that they can readily be accommodated against the work in clamping position. Friction springs 178 support the clamps in their assumed positions.

The lever 172 is actuated to bring down the gauge 162 to position the clamps 141i heightwise (and lengthwise if desirable) of the work as hereinbefore described followed by actuation of the lever 172 to cause the clamps to move towards each other and clamp the work under clamping pressure. For this purpose the lever 172 is pivotally connected to the gauge arm 160 by means of a laterally extending pivot pin 131 The lever extends forwardly from its pivot, to provide a handle which the operator grasps, and rearwardly to provide an arm pivotally connected to a downwardly extending rod 182. Initial actuation of the lever causes the gauge arm 160 to be pulled down about the axis of its pivot pin 159 through the lever being tied to the gauge arm 16% by a comparatively strong tension spring 184. On meeting the resistance offered by the Work to the gauge 162 when the button 168 engages the shoe bottom, continued pulling down of the lever 172 causes it to swing about the axis of its pivot pin 180 against the resistance of the spring 184 to lift the rod 182. The rod 182 extends downwardly through a clearance in a forwardly extending arm of a three-armed lever 188 pivotally mounted on a pin 186 in a fixed part of the machine. An upwardly extending arm of the lever 188 is connected by a link 190 with the stem 192 of a spool valve contained in a valve housing 194 (FIG. 6). Upward lifting of the rod 182 causes an adjustable nut 196 on its lower end to engage under the forwardly extending arm of the lever 188 and urge the lever in a direction about its pivot pin 186 to cause the upwardly extending arm of the lever to draw the valve stems 192 rearwardly, In this condition (shown in FIG. 5) air under pressure from a source of supply is directed into the top of the cylinder 15% to operate the clamping means as hereinbefore described, air beneath the piston 148 being directed to exhaust.

Having initiated operation of the clamping means the operator may release the lever 172 whereupon the gauge 162 and gauge arm 160 swing upwardly to an out-of-thcway position about the axis of the pin 159 under the influence of a counterweight 193 secured to a cranked, rearwardly extending portion of the gauge arm 16%. The rod 182 descends through the lever 11%, said lever remaining in the position taken up as a result of the ac tion thereon of the rod 182. For the sake of lightness in order to minimize operator eifort the arm 156, gauge and gauge arm, and lever 172 are made of aluminum.

To prevent the slide 114 being urged up the slideway 112 by the spring 134 to raise the clamps 141 when they disengage from under the gauge rolls 170 the slideway is provided with a series of ratchet teeth 2% arranged to be engaged by one of a pair of pawls 2112 pivotally mounted side by side in the slide 114. In its raised position the head 144 on the piston rod 146 engages under one arm of a bell-crank lever 204 pivotally mounted by means of a pin 2% on the clamp support 118. The head 144 urges the bell-crank lever 264 in a direction about the axis of its pivot pin for a downwardly extending arm of the bell-crank lever to urge a finger 2198 pivotally connected thereto rearwardly through the support 118 and slide 114. In this condition the rear end of the finger is pressed against tails of the pawls 2192 to hold the pawls disengaged with the ratchet teeth 29'!) against the resistance of compression springs 210. The rear end portion of the finger 208 rests in a clearance in the pivot pin 116 and the forward portion of the finger is bifurcated to straddle the piston rod 146. On descent of the piston 148 and thus the head 144 from engagement with the bell-crank lever 2114, to bring about clamping movement of the clamps as hereinbefore described, the springs 2111 move the pawls 262 to en gage the ratchet teeth 2%, the finger 2118 no longer offering resistance to such movement. One of the pawls 2112 projects half a tooth beyond the other pawl 202 so that one or other of said pawls may engage directly with a tooth of the ratchet teeth 20111.

As hereinbefore described the slideway 112 is fixed to the block 98 which as aforesaid is mounted in a curved guideway 1130 in the upper face of the sleeve 90. The upper end portion of the slideway 112 is fixed to the block 98, the slideway extending downwardly therefrom. In the loading position the block 98 is held against rock ing movement in the guideway thus supporting the clamping means in a stable manner while a shoe to be operated on is clamped by the clamps 14%. A chain 212 is connected at its forward end to a bar 214 fixed to the lower end portion of the slideway, the opposite end of the chain 212 being connected to a fixed anchorage in the machine. When the jack 2 occupies the loading position the chain 212 is taut and urges the slideway 112 to move the block rearwardly in the guideway 100 to a position determined by engagement of the bar 214 against the sleeve 90. On swinging the jack 2 from the loading position rearwardly in the machine to take up operative position the chains 174 and 212 provide conveniently flexible connections which slacken and stow away, slackening of the chain 212 allowing the block 98 to move in the guideway 100 to accommodate the shoe supported on the last pin 96 against the holddown 84.

Having clamped the shoe to be operated on on the jack 2 the jack is urged rearwardly in the machine in a manner referred to above. In moving rearwardly the shoe insole is engaged against the wheel 80 which rides up the slope of the shoe insole in the shank region, as the jack continues to move rearwardly, thereby elevating the arm 70 and links 68 and positioning the Wiping fingers 24 according to the heightwise contour presented by the insole. In the illustrative machine the wheel 80 is of as large a diameter as is consistent with the range of work to be operated on so as to ride up the work with a minimum of resistance. At this stage the wipers 4, and thus the wiping devices 10, occupy open and retracted positions in the machine the ball and socket connections of the links 68 with the elevating arm 76 and the universal coupling of said links with their respective finger carriers 32 permitting the links to partake of wiping and retracting movement of the wiping devices 19. The fingers 24 are elevated while occupying open and retracted positions, their disposition being modified through the movements performed by the links 6% as the Wiping instrumentalities advance and close. The illustrative machine is constructed and arranged so that the disposition of the inner, wiping ends of the fingers is substantially complemental to the heightwise contour of the shoe bottom in the waist and shank region when they have advanced and closed to engage the work. As aforesaid elevation of the arm '76 is initiated by the work moving rearwardly in the machine and this elevation is completed by the Work being elevated into operative position in the wiping plane of the wipers 4. A transparent guard 216, FIG. 10, extends outwardly on either side of the elevating arm '70 through which the operator may observe that the work is correctly positioned in operative position.

Not only is the arm 70 elevated but it describes an arc determined by the shape of the cam slots 76. Preferably these slots are substantially concentric about the axes of the pivot pins 34-, about which the carriers 32 for the fingers 24 are swung, when the wiping devices 10 are in advanced work engaging positions so that the links 68 do not assume a too straightened condition relatively to the finger carriers 32 at maximum elevation as they would be likely to do if the arm 70 was raised in a vertical direction only. Furthermore, since the point of contact on the periphery of the wheel 80 with the work is also moved through an are substantially concentric with the axes of the pivot pins 34 in said work engaging positions the wheel contacts various types of work at substantially the same distance from said axes as determined by the slots '76. Should the arm 79 be elevated in a vertical direction only it is likely that where, for a low heeled shoe in operative position, the wheel 80 would contact the work on the shank slope, the wheel would ride over the peak of the slope on to the forepart in the case of a very high heeled shoe in operative position.

The work is embraced by the heel band and supported against the holddown of the machine in operative position in known manner for the wipers 4 and wiping devices 10 to commence their wiping actions. Following positioning of the work in operative position the machine clutch is actuated which starts a cycle of operation as aforesaid. The illustrative machine includes a forwardly and rearwardly extending, driven, cam shaft (similarly disposed in the machine to the cam shaft 4 disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,949,539, referred to above) carrying rotary cams for operating various instrumentalities of the machine. Conveniently secured on the foremost of these cams is a cam plate 218 (FIG. 10). Prior to initiation of a cycle of operations the cam plate 218 engages a follower roll 220 on a rearwardly extending arm of a bell-crank lever 222 to hold said arm raised. The bell-crank lever 222 is pivotally mounted on a fixed part of the machine by means of a pin 224. An upwardly extending arm of the bell-crank lever 222 is linked by means of a pair of rods 225 to a pawl carrier 22% pivotally attached, by means of a pin 22%, between the cam plates '73. The elevating arm 70 which, as hereinbefore described, has cam rolls 74- engaging in the cam slots 76 in the plates 78 extends upwardly above the cam rolls 74 and is pivotally attached at its upper end to a locking member 236. This locking member comprises a pair of arms pivotally mounted in axial alignment by means of pins 232, one on each of the cam plates 78. These arms extend forwardly on either side of the elevating arm 70 and are joined together at their forward ends by a ratchet plate 234 bridging them in front of the elevating arm 70. Tension springs 236 are connected between projections on the arms of the locking member 230 and pawls 23% mounted for limited pivotal movement in the pawl carrier 226. As the elevating arm 70 is raised by the shoe being moved into operative position in the machine, the cam rolls 74 riding up the cam slots 76 in the cam plates 78 as hereinbefore described, through the pivotal connection of the elevating arm and locking member 230 the locking member is swung uplardly about the axes of the pins 232. Elevation of the arm 7% and locking member 230 is comparatively only lightly resisted by the springs 236. On actuation of the clutch the aforementioned cam shaft commences to rotate and before the wiping instrumentalties engage the work the cam plate 218 moves to free the bell-crank lever 222 so that its upwardly extending arm may swing rearwardly under the influence of the springs 236 which swing the pawls 23% together with the pawl carrier rearwardly about the axis of its pivot pin 228. The pawls 238 now engage forwardly directed ratchet teeth on the ratchet plate 234 locking the locking member 239, and thus the elevating arm 76 and wiping finger carriers 32, against further heightwise displacement which could be occasioned by the wiping fingers 24 being raised as they move across the shoe bottom and thereby minimizing the wiping pressure of the wiping evices 10. One of the pawls 238 extends half a tooth beyond the other pawl 238 so as to increase the likelihood of one of the pawls engaging directly with a tooth on the ratchet plate 234?.

As the heel wipers 4 and wiping devices 10 approach the work the links G8 connected to the finger carriers 32 are swung inwardly causing the fingers to take up their positions in accordance with the heightwise contour of the shoe in the shank region and determined by the heightwise disposition of the elevating arm 7t as hereinbefore described. The curved leading edges of the fingers 24, see FIG. 4, enable the fingers to ride smoothly on to the work, the fingers of each device 10 articulating relatively to each other and the springs 64 yielding to accommodate the fingers to the work in the waist and shank region.

In order for the forward ends of the wiping devices 14) to engage the work substantially at the same time as the forward ends of the wipers 4 and thus minimize the tendency for forward wiping of the shoe lasting margin which may result in a bulge of the upper in the joint region the illustrative machine is provided with the cam follower rolls 2t) engaged in the cam slots 22 as hereinbefore mentioned. As aforesaid the three-armed member 18 associated with each wiping device 10 has its third arm of the member 18 extending rearwardly in the machine, which arm carries a roll 20. Associated with each wiping device 10 is a fixed cam plate 240 mounted on a cover plate 242 similar to the cover plate 28 referred to in United States Letters Patent 1,949,539. The cam slots 22 are formed in the cam plates and are so shaped for the rolls 20 to follow as the heel wipers make their wiping movements hereinbefore described that as the wipers 4 close on the work in their forward positions the wiping devices 10 are caused to swing inwardly fairly rapidly about the axes of the pins 14 which connect them to the heel seat wipers 4 in such a manner that the leading edges of the wiping surfaces the forward ends of the devices 10 engage the work substantially simultaneously with the forward ends of the wipers 4. In other words, the fingers 24 of each wiping device 10 provide a wiping surface having a substantially straight leading edge and these leading edges are maintained in generally parallel relation during the advancing and closing movements of the heel seat wipers. A portion of each wiping device bracket 12 lies between the first finger 24 of its wiping device and the forward edge of its associated heel seat wiper 4 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). These portions are formed with wiping faces 266 (FIG. 2) to provide substantially continuous wiping surfaces of the wipers 4 and wiping devices 10.

To cope with lateral slope which occurs in the Waist and shank area of some last shapes provision is made for the wiping devices to be accommodated to said lateral slope of the shoe operated on. Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11 the pin 72 extending through the elevating arm 70 to receive the cam rolls 74 and upper ends of the links 68 extends through an enlarged bore 73 in the elevating arm and is provided with an enlarged, part-spherical midportion 246 so that the pin 72 may rock in the elevating arm and thus serve as an equalizing member by permitting the links 68 and finger carriers 32 to move heightwise relatively to each other according to the dictates of the work contours in the lateral direction. The peripheries of the cam rolls 74 are curved laterally of the machine to enable them to rock in the cam slots 76. The partspherical mid-portion of the pin 72 is embraced in an inverted V-shaped end portion 243 of a rod 244 extending heightwise through a bore in the elevating arm 70. A lower end of a comparatively strong compression spring 248 surrounds the rod 244 and bears on the V-shaped end portion to maintain the pin 72 normally substantially horizontally disposed.

The aforementioned pivotal connection between the upper end of the elevating arm 70 and the locking member 230 comprises a pin 250 carried in the locking member and extending through aligned slots 252 in the upper end portion of the elevating arm 70 which is bifurcated. The upper end of the strong spring 248 bears against a plunger 249 which engages the pin 25%) in the space between the branches of the bifurcation and normally holds the pin against the tops of the slots 252. Should excessive pressure be brought to bear on the wiping fingers 24 during a wiping operation their carriers 32 may yield upwardly about the axes of their pivot pins 34 through the ability of their connections with the elevating arm 7t) provided by the links 68 to raise the elevating arm against the resistance of the spring 24-8.

The heel wipers 4 make a double wipe in known manner coming to rest in closed positions (as shown in FIG. 1) on the work while tacks are driven through the tack pockets 8. Itwill be appreciated that, in the illustrative machine the wiping devices 10 will partake of the double Wiping movements of the wipers 4 and that the dwell period is maintained a sufficient period of time for adherence to take place between the cemented parts of the shoe in the shank portion.

Following said dwell period the machine is tripped to cause the wiping instrumentalities to open and retract and to cause the jack 2 to move forwardly to its loading position. A conveniently positioned catch 254 mounted on the left side of the jack (as seen by an operator standing in front of the machine), FIG. 5, engages a roll 255 mounted on the third arm of the three-armed lever 138 to swing the lever 188 about its pivot pin 185 in a direc tion for it to move the valve stem 192 forwardly as the jack is returned to the position shown. In this condition air under pressure is directed into the bottom of the cylinder 150 to raise the piston 14-9, air above the piston being directed to exhaust to open the clamps 140 and release the work. On opening the clamps 140 the finger 208 operates as hereinbefore described to retract the pawls 202 from engagement with the ratchet teeth 200 thus allowing the spring 134 to elevate the slide 114 and parts carried thereby.

As the jack 2 is swung from loading position to operative position the rod 124 is pulled upwardly and rearwardly through the trunnion 130 by the yoke 122 moving rearwardly with the jack thus rendering the spring 134 ineffective to support the slide 114 on the slideway 112. Should there be no work held between the clamp 140 at this time the slide 114 may ride down the slideway 112. In this event the slide is brought to rest by the aforementioned rolls 120 on the pin 116 mounted in the slide en- 14 gaging 0n forwardly extending arms of a bracket 256 supported by the jack. In the event of the block 98 being moved forwardly along its guideway 100 the rolls are restrained for movement along arcuate support faces 258 of the bracket 256.

The forementioned catch 254 which initiates release of the Work from the clamps is pivotally mounted on the jack 2 by means of a pin 260. The catch is normally urged rearwardly about the axis of its pivot pin by a spring 262 into engagement with a stop 264. On rearward movement of the jack from loading position to operative position the catch 254 engages the roll 255 and yields against the action of the spring 262 to ride under the roll to return to its normal position in engagement with the stop 264. As aforesaid the catch engages the roll 255 to move the three-armed lever 138 as the jack returns to loading position.

The manner in which the several mechanisms, which are provided in the herein illustrated machine, in accordance with the features of this invention, operate, should be clear from the foregoing detailed description. It will, therefore, remain only to outline briefly the operation of the machine as a whole. After placing a shoe S to be lasted on the last pin 96 of the shoe supporting jack 2 with the jack in its loading position, FIG. 5, the operator takes hold of the lever 172 and by means of this lever first moves the upper clamps 140, 14th downwardly, and perhaps also toewardly of the shoe, to the desired positions relatively to the shoe and then activates these clamps to clamp the upper against the sides of the lasts. Now, if examination of the shoe indicates, the operator can be take hold of the upper materials at the opposite sides of the shoe in the general vicinity of the upper clamps, by hand or by a hand gripper, and rearrange and/or tension the upper materials by pulling them heightwise of the last between the clamps and the sides of the last. With the upper materials thus properly positioned and held by the clamps, the jack is operated to present the shoe to the operating instrumentalities of the machine and then an automatic operating cycle is initiated in the manner explained in United States Patent No. 2,143,881, referred to above. At the conclusion of this automatic operating cycle, during which the heel seat wipers, 4, 4 and shank wiping units 10, 10 operate in the manner explained above, the jack is returned to its loading position. The upper clamps having also been released during the operating cycle, the lasted shoe may now be removed from the jack and another shoe placed thereon.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portions of shoes having a supoprt for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last, a pair of heel seat wipers for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit mounted on the front end of each heel seat wiper for pivotal movement about an axis extending generally transversely widthwise of a shoe being lasted to various angular positions to accommodate shoes of different heel heights, and means for effecting such pivotal movements of said shank wiping units.

2. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portions of shoes having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last movable from an inoperative loading position to an operative position, a pair of heel seat wipers for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit mounted on the front end of each heel seat wiper for pivotal movement about an axis extending generally transversely of a shoe being lasted to various angular positions to accommodate shoes of different heel heights, and means for effecting such pivotal movements amaava l of said shank wiping units including a member adapted to engage portion of a shoe on the support as the support is moved to operative position.

3. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portions of shoes having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last movable from an inoperative loading position to an operative position, a pair of heel seat Wipers for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit mounted on the front end of each heel seat Wiper for pivotal movement about an axis extending generally transversely of a shoe being lasted to various angular positions to accommodate shoes of different heel heights, means for effecting such pivotal movements of said shank wiping units including a member adapted to engage the shank portion of a shoe on the support as the support is moved to operative position, and means for yieldingly holding said shank wiping units in angular positions to which they are thus moved during the operation of the heel seat wipers and shank wiping units.

4. A machine for lasting [the heel seat and adjacent shank portions of shoes having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last, a pair of heel seat wipers for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit mounted on the front end of each heel seat wiper, each of said shank wiping units including a plurality of articulated wiping blocks carried by a common holder mounted for pivotal movement about an axis generally transverse to a shoe being lasted and located at the front end of the associated heel seat wiper thus to cause said wiping blocks to present a wiping surface of various curvatures to accommodate shoes of different heel heights, and means for effecting such pivotal movements of said wiping block holders, including a member adapted to engage the shank portion of a shoe on said support.

5. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portions of shoes having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last, a pair of heel seat wipers for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit mounted on the front end of each heel seat wiper, each of said shank wiping units including a plurality of articulated wiping blocks carried by a common holder mounted for pivotal movement about an axis generally transverse to a shoe being lasted and located at the front end of the associated heel seat wiper thus to cause said wiping blocks to present a wiping surface of various curvatures to accommodate shoes of different heel heights, means for effecting such pivotal movements of said Wiping block holders, and means for yieldingly holding said wiper block holders in the angular positions to which they are thus moved during the operation of the heel seat wipers and shank wiping units.

6. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portions of shoes having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last movable from an inoperative loading position to an operative position, a pair of heel seat wipers for Wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit mounted on the front end of each heel seat wiper, each of said shank wiping units including a plurality of articulated wiping blocks carried by a common holder mounted for pivotal movement about an axis generally transverse to a shoe being lasted and located at the front end of the associated heel seat wiper, thus to cause said Wiping blocks to present a wiping surface of various curvatures to accommodate shoes of different heel heights, means for effecting such pivotal movements of said wiper block holders including a member adapted to engage the shank portion of if; a shoe on the support as the support is moved to operative position, and means for yielding holding said wiper block holders in the angular position to which they are thus moved during the operation of the heel seat wipers and shank wiping units.

7. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portions of shoes having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last, a pair of heel seat wipers for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit mounted on the front end of each heel seat wiper for pivotal movement about an axis extending generally transversely of a shoe being lasted to various angular positions to accommodate shoes of different heel heights, means for effecting such pivotal movements of said shank wiping units, and means for yieldingly holding said shank wiping units in the angular positions to which they are thus moved during the operation of the heel seat wipers and shank wiping units, said last-named means including an equalizing member adapted to permit limited pivotal movement of said shank wiping units relatively to each other.

8. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portions of shoes having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last movable from an inoperative loading position to an operative position, a pair of heel seat Wipers for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit mounted on the front end of each heel seat wiper for pivotal movement about an axis extending generally transversely of a shoe being lasted to various angular positions to accommodate shoes of different heel heights, means for effecting such pivotal movements of said shank wiping units including a member adapted to engage the shank portion of a shoe on the support as the support is moved to operative position, and means for yieldingly holding said shank wiping units in angular positions to which they are thus moved during the operation of the heel seat wipers and shank wiping units, said last-named means including an equalizing member adapted to permit limited pivot-a1 movement of said shank wiping units relatively to each other.

9. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portions of shoes having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last, a pair of heel seat wipers for Wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wip ing unit mounted on the front end of each heel seat wiper, each of said shank wiping units including a plurality of articulated wiping blocks carried by a common holder mounted for pivotal movement about an axis generally transverse to a shoe being lasted and located at the front end of the associated heel seat wiper thus to cause said Wiping blocks to present a wiping surface of various curvatures to accommodate shoes of different heel heights, mean for effecting such pivotal movements of said wiping block holders, and means for yieldingly holding said wiper block holders in the angular positions to which they are thus moved during the operation of the heel seat wipers and shank wiping units, said last-named means including an equalizing member adapted to permit limited pivotal movement of said shank wiping units relatively to each other.

10. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portions of shoes having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last movable from an inoperative position to an operative position, a pair of heel seat wipers for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit mounted on the front end of each heel seat wiper, each of said shank wiping units including a plurality of articulated wiping blocks carried by a common holder mounted for pivotal movement about an axis generally transverse to a shoe being lasted and located at the front end of the associated heel seat wiper, thus to cause said wiping blocks to present a wiping surface of various curvatures to accommodate shoes of different heel heights, means for effecting such pivotal movements of said wiper block holders including a member adapted to engage the shank portion of a shoe on the support as the support is moved to operative position, and means for yieldingly holding said wiper block holders in the angular position to which they are thus moved during the operation of the heel seat wipers and shank wiping units, said last-named means including an equalizing member adapted to permit limited pivotal movement of said shank wiping units relatively to each other.

11. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portion of shoes having a support for a shoe com prising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last, a pair of heel seat wipers mounted for advancing and closing movements to wipe the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit supported on the front end of each heel seat wiper, each of said shank wiping units comprising a plurality or articulated wiping blocks mounted on a supporting member and pro viding a wiping surface having a substantially straight leading edge extending lengthwise of a shoe on the support, and means for guiding said supporting members adapted to cause the shank wiping units to move inwardly over the shank portion of the shoe bottom at the opposite sides of the shoe with their leading edges in generally parallel relation during the advancing and closing movements of the heel seat wipers.

12. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portion of shoes having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last, a pair of heel seat wipers mounted for advancing and closing movements to wipe the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit supported on the front end of each heel seat wiper, each of said shank wiping units comprising a plurality of articulated wiping blocks mounted on a supporting member and providing a wiping surface having a substantially straight leading edge extending lengthwise of a shoe on the support, each of said supporting members including an arm mounted on its associated heel seat wiperfor pivotal movement about an axis extending perpendicular to the operating face of the wiper, and means cooperating with said arms to cause the shank wiping units to move inwardly over the shank portion of the shoe bottom at the opposite sides of the shoe with their leading edges in generally parallel relation during the advancing and closing movements of the heel seat wipers.

13. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portion of shoes having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last,

a pair of heel seat wipers mounted for advancing and closing movements to wipe the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit supported on the front end of each heel seat wiper, each of said shank wiping units comprising a plurality of articulated wiping blocks mounted on a supporting member and providing a wiping surface having a substantially straight leading edge extending lengthwise of a shoe on the support, each of said supporting members including an arm mounted at one end on its associated heel seat wiper for pivotal movement about an axis extending perpendicular to the operating face of the wiper and carrying a cam roller at its opposite end, and cam means cooperating with said cam rollers to cause the shank wiping units to move inwardly over the shank portions of the shoe bottom at the opposite sides of the shoe with their leading edges in generally parallel relation during the advancing and closing movements of the heel seat wipers.

14. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portion of shoes having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last, a pair of heel seat wipers mounted for advancing and closing movements to wipe the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit supported on the front end of each heel seat Wiper, each of said shank wiping units comprising a plurality of articulated wiping blocks mounted on a supporting member and providing a wiping surface having a substantially straight leading edge extending lengthwise of a shoe on the support, each of said supporting members including an arm mounted at one end on its associated heel seat wiper for pivotal movement about an axis extending perpendicular to the operating face of the wiper and carrying a cam roller at its opposite end, and stationary cam means cooperating with said cam rollers to cause the shank wiping units to move inwardly over the shank portions of the shoe bottom at the opposite sides of the shoe with their leading edges in generally parallel relation during the advancing and closing movements of the heel seat wipers.

15. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portions of a shoe, having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last, a pair of heel seat wipers for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit associated with each heel seat wiper and adapted to wipe the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the bottom of the shoe forwardly of the breast line and in the curved shank portion thereof, and means carried by said support for clamping the upper materials against the opposite sides of the last in locations adjacent to and extending toewardly from the breast line and adapted to hold the upper materials in place during the operation of said heel seat wipers and shank wiping units.

16. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portions of a shoe, having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last, said support being movable from .an inoperative loading position to an operative position to present a shoe thereon to the machine, a pair of heel seat wipers for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit associated with each heel seat wiper and adapted to wipe the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the bottom of the shoe forwardly of the breast line and in the curved shank portion thereof, and fluid pressure actuated. means carried by said support and operable while the support is in its loading position for clamping the upper materials against the opposite sides of the last in locations adjacent to and extending toewardly from the breast line and adapted to hold the upper materials in place during the operation of said heel seat Wipers and shank Wiping units.

17. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portions of a shoe, having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last, a pair of heel seat wipers for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit associated with each heel seat wiper and adapted to wipe the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the bottom of the shoe forwardly of the breast line and in the curved shank portion thereof, means carried by said support for clamping the upper materials against the opposite sides of the last in locations adjacent to and extending toewardly from the breast line and adapted to hold the upper materials in place during the operation of said heel seat wipers and shank wiping units, and means for releasing said upper material clamping means at the conclusion of the operation of said heel seat Wipers and shank wiping units.

1% 18. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portions of a shoe, having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last, said support being movable from an inoperative loading position to an operative position to present a shoe thereon to the machine, a pair of heel seat wipers for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit associated with each heel seat wiper and adapted to wipe the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the bottom of the shoe forwardly of the breast line and in the curved shank portion thereof, fluid pressure actuated means carried by said support and operable while the support is in its loading position for clamping the upper materials against the opposite sides of the last in locations adjacent to and extending toewardly from the breast line and adapted to hold the upper materials in place during the operation of said heel seat wipers and shank wiping units, and means for releasing said upper material clamping means at the conclusion of the operation of said heel seat wipers and shank wiping units.

19. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portions of a shoe, having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last, a pair of heel seat wipers for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit associated with each heel seat wiper and adapted to wipe the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the bottom of the shoe forwardly of the breast line and in the curved shank portion thereof, means for clamping the upper materials against the opposite sides of the last in locations adjacent to and extending toewardly from the breast line and adapted to hold the upper materials in place during the operation of said heel seat wipers and shank wiping units, said clamping means being mounted on the shoe support for movement heightwise relatively thereto, and means for effecting such heightwise movements of the clamping means to accommodate shoes on lasts of different depths.

20. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portions of a shoe, having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last, said support being movable from an inoperative loading position to an operative position to present a shoe thereon to the machine, a pair of heel seat wipers for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit associated with each heel seat wiper and adapted to wipe the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the bottom of the shoe forwardly of the breast line and in the curved shank portion thereof, fluid pressure actuated means operable while the support is in its loading position for clamping the upper materials against the opposite sides of the last in locations adjacent to and extending toewardly from the breast line and adapted to hold the upper materials in place during the 2'8 operation of said heel seat wipers and shank wiping units, said clamping means being mounted on the shoe support for movement heightwise relatively thereto, and means for effecting such heightwise movements of the clamping means to accommodate shoes on lasts of different depths.

21. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portions of a shoe, having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last, a pair of heel seat wipers for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit associated with each heel seat wiper and adapted to wipe the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the bottom of the shoe forwardly of the breast line and in the curved shank portion thereof, means for clamping the upper materials against the opposite sides of the last in locations adjacent to and extending toewardly from the breast line and adapted to hold the upper materials in place during the operation of said heel seat wipers and shank wiping units, said clamping means being mounted on the shoe support for movement heightwise relatively thereto, and means movable by an operator for effecting such heightwise movements of the clamping means to accommodate shoes on lasts of different depths and for rendering said clamping means operative.

22. A machine for lasting the heel seat and adjacent shank portions of a shoe, having a support for a shoe comprising upper materials and an insole assembled on a last, said support being movable from an inoperative loading position to an operative position to present a shoe thereon to the machine, a pair of heel seat wipers for wiping the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the heel end of the insole of a shoe on the support, a shank wiping unit associated with each heel seat wiper and adapted to wipe the lasting margin of the upper materials inwardly over the bottom of the shoe forwardly of the breast line and in the curved shank portion thereof, fluid pressure actuated means operable while the support is in its loading position for clamping the upper materials against the opposite sides of the last in locations adjacent to and extending toewardly from the breast line and adapted to hold the upper materials in place during the operation of said heel seat wipers and shank wiping units, said clamping means being mounted on the shoe support for movement heightwise relatively thereto, and means movable by an operator for effecting such heightwise movements or" the clamping means to accommodate shoes on lasts of different depths and for rendering said clamping means operative.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,028,248 Roberts Jan. 21, 1936 2,072,213 Pratt et al Mar. 2, 1937 2,210,586 Karnborian Aug. 6, 1940 2,727,257 Chandler et al Dec. 20, 1955 2,869,155 Finn June 20, 1959 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 146,474 September 1 19 Frank C. Choice It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 33, for "poisitioning" read positioning column 14, line 6, for "forementioned" read afore mentioned line 31, strike out "be"; column 15, line 2, after "engage" insert the shank column 16, line 2, for "yielding" read yieldingly line 69, after "inoperative" insert loading column 17, line 24, for "or" read Signed and sealed this 29th day of December 1964 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A MACHINE FOR LASTING THE HEEL SEAT AND ADJACENT SHANK PORTIONS OF SHOES HAVING A SUPPORT FOR A SHOE COMPRISING UPPER MATERIALS AND AN INSOLE ASSEMBLED ON A LAST, A PAIR OF HEEL SEAT WIPERS FOR WIPING THE LASTING MARGIN OF THE UPPER MATERIALS INWARDLY OVER THE HEEL END OF THE INSOLE OF A SHOE ON THE SUPPORT, A SHANK WIPING UNIT MOUNTED ON THE FRONT END OF EACH HEEL SEAT WIPER FOR 